EPISCOPAL LANGUAGE
ANGLICAN, as a noun, means someone who is a member of the Anglican Communion; there are about eighty million Anglicans around the world. As an adjective, the word describes the worldwide collection of autonomous churches in communion with the Church of England. The Episcopal Church is one of those member churches.
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION refers to the authority of bishops who stand in a direct line going back to apostolic times, beginning with Jesus commissioning Peter. Apostolic succession is an important theology for Anglicans, Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, and some other Christian churches. In confirmation and ordination, a bishop lays hands on the person receiving the sacrament; this represents the teachings and authority of the church passing from one person to another. Bishops assume the role of an apostle and pledge to guard the church's unity and the integrity of the church's life and teaching through the centuries.
ACOLYTE is a lay person (often between the ages of ten and eighteen, but not limited to young people) who serves as a helper during the service. An acolyte may light and extinguish and altar candles; carry the cross, the Gospel book, a small candle/taper or torch, or an incense container; or help the deacon or priest set and clear the table for Holy Eucharist. In most churches, acolytes are dressed in specific robes (vestments) similar to other members of the altar party.
ALTAR GUILD is a ministry of the church, with members who maintain and set up the worship space for worship. Each congregation has its own altar guild.
ALTAR PARTY is a group of people designated to lead the church during a specific worship service. This includes the priest, acolytes, deacons, or other people involved in worship. The altar party is traditionally dressed in vestments (specific robes and clothing), according to the tradition of the individual congregation.
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER contains the prayers and outlines for worship services in The Episcopal Church. Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer wrote the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549. The book has been revised many times and is a unifying guide for worship throughout the Anglican Communion--hence, the word "common."
CANON (1) refers to a body of church laws, i.e. canon law. (2) It also may refer to a priest or deacon who serves a particular function on the staff of a bishop of the dean of a cathedral.
CATHEDRAL is from the Latin for "chair" and is the church that serves as the home church or headquarters of the diocesan bishop. The city in which the cathedral is located is the "See City."
CATHOLIC is from a Greek word meaning "universal." When it begins with a lowercase "c," catholic usually refers to all Christians who hold to the teachings of the early church and are led by bishops in apostolic success. When it begins with a capital letter "C," Catholic may refer specifically to the Roman Catholic Church, one of the expressions of catholic Christianity.
DIOCESE is the name of a group of congregations in a geographical area. A diocesan bishop serves as the diocese's chief priest and pastor.
DIOCESAN CONVENTION or Council is an annual meeting or representatives of the congregations that come together to make decisions about mission, ministries, and finances, among other issues.
EPISCOPAL AND EPISCOPALIAN are terms used in relation to the Episcopal Church. Episcopal is an adjective. The noun form is Episcopalian. For example: Episcopalians believe in the episcopal authority of a bishop.
GENERAL CONVENTION is the deliberative and legislative body of the Episcopal Church, which includes the United States and churches in nineteen other countries, mostly in Latin America. Meeting every three years, General Convention is composed of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies (lay and ordained people elected from each diocese). In some ways similar to diocean convention General Convention makes decisions about ministry and mission, adopts positions on social justice issues, and determines the budget for the wider church. It is also charged with electing a Presiding Bishop every nine years.
LITURGY comes from the ancient Greek word meaning "public work" and describes our worship services. It also indicates the specific instructions (rubrics) we use for celebrating certain services such as baptism and eucharist.
MISSION (1) refers to the specific ministry of the Church and people to preach and model the words of scripture to the community and world. (2) Mission may also refer to a church that receives financial assistance from the diocese or another entity (as opposed to a parish, which is financially self-sufficient).
VESTMENTS are the specialized clothing worn during liturgies by clergy as well as by acolytes or other people in the altar party.
VESTRY is an elected body of church members responsible for making key decisions for the local congregation and for serving as a council of advice for the priest. Generally, the priest is the presiding officer of the vestry. Senior and junior wardens serve as leaders on the vestry. The congregation elects members of the vestry during annual meetings.
-- from "Episcopal Language, Understanding Church Terms" ForwardMovement.org 2014
